To the everyday person who loves dogs, the rules and regulations of some national dog registry associations like the American Kennel Club (AKC) can strike one as problematic. Whilst you would expect a puppy registered by the American Kennel Club to be a healthy, high quality purebred, this is not always the case. You can only be certain of getting a puppy with a recognized pedigree. The American Kennel Club does not make sure the puppy’s parents are free from health problems that may be latent but genetic. Neither does it regulate the standards of breeders and their establishments. To many people, this can be a shock. It’s natural to expect that a registry such as the AKC would be interested in breeding out genetic illnesses, and making sure dogs who are constitutionally strong and healthy are bred. And it demonstrates why some breed clubs, such as those for the Australian kelpie dog breed, have decided not to finish the requirements for American Kennel Club registration. This means they’re not eligible for recognition by the AKC as a distinct breed, and these dogs may not compete in the numerous American Kennel Club sponsored dog shows. It does, however, protect the breed’s health.
What the American Kennel Club wanted breeders of the Australian kelpie to do was in effect limit the natural genetic variability of their dogs. Dogs in American Kennel Club recognized breeds, and with an American Kennel Club issued pedigree, have been bred for show, according to fairly limiting characteristics. The net effect is that a lot of these dogs can no longer do a lot of things the breed was once known for, such as hunt. It has also resulted in a lot of genetic health problems, the consequence of too much inbreeding to keep the lines ‘pure’. Dogs are bred back to their grandparents and parents, simply because it creates dogs that help do well in dog shows. The University of Wisconsin:
“First, the AKC defines quality in a dog primarily on the basis of appearance, paying scant heed to such other canine characteristics as health, temperament, and habits of work. Over the years this policy has led to destructive forms of inbreeding that have created dogs capable only of conforming to human standards of beauty. Many can no longer perform their traditional tasks–herding, tracking, hunting–while more than a few cannot live outside a human-controlled environment.” (Source)
Of course, this may not be the only reason why a breed isn’t listed by the American Kennel Club. Some of the smaller breeds are not recognized as they are smaller versions of larger dogs, and the American Kennel Club doesn’t recognize the distinction. This is the case with dogs like the small German spitz and the toy Manchester terrier.
Ultimately, unless you plan to show your dog, registration by the American Kennel Club is not as important as getting a good quality dog from a breeder who breeds with the health of the dogs in mind, as well as to preserve the dog’s natural abilities. Breeders who breed mostly for show are more likely to follow breeding practices that create genetic defects. And it could result in dogs that have personalities that might prove difficult to live with. Whilst this might not be true across the board, for all breeders, in the long run, sustained inbreeding can only result in long term problems for a breed.